Hitman's Pontiac Trans Am Site
The Second Generation Trans Am Information Site

1972

174-Day UAW Strike almost kills the Firebird.

Production Numbers

Model: Firebird
Manual: 1,263
Automatic: 10,738
Total: 12,001

Model: Esprit
Manual: 504
Automatic: 10,911
Total: 11,415

Model: Formula
Manual: 1,082
Automatic: 4,167
Total: 5,249

Model: Trans Am
Manual: 458
Automatic: 828
Total: 1,286

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Cowl Tag

ST - Style

72 - Model Year

2 - Division number
2 - Pontiac

2 - Body Type
2 - Firebird

3 - Series
3 - Firebird
4 - Esprit
6 - Formula
8 - Trans Am

87 - Body Style

N - Assembly Plant
N - Norwood, OH
L - Van Nuys, CA

149568 - Fisher Body Unit Number

BDY - Body

TR - Trim

251 - Interior Trim Code
121 Ivory Vinyl (standard)
212 Ivory Vinyl (deluxe)
221 Dark Blue Vinyl (standard)
131 Dark Saddle Vinyl (standard)
231 Dark Saddle Vinyl (deluxe)
141 Dark Green Vinyl (standard)
241 Dark Green Vinyl (deluxe)
251 Light Beige Vinyl (deluxe)
351 Light Beige Cloth (deluxe)
161 Black Vinyl (standard)
261 Black Vinyl (deluxe)
361 Black Cloth (deluxe)

A51 - Bucket Seats

11 - Lower Body Paint Code
11 Cameo White
14 Revere Silver
24 Adriatic Blue
26 Lucerne Blue
36 Julep Green
43 Springfield Green
48 Wilderness Green
50 Brittany Beige
53 Quezal Gold
55 Shadow Gold
56 Monarch Yellow
57 Brasilla Gold
63 Anaconda Gold
65 Sundance Orange
75 Cardinal Red

11 - Upper Body Paint Code
11 Cameo White
14 Revere Silver
24 Adriatic Blue
26 Lucerne Blue
36 Julep Green
43 Springfield Green
48 Wilderness Green
50 Brittany Beige
53 Quezal Gold
55 Shadow Gold
56 Monarch Yellow
57 Brasilla Gold
63 Anaconda Gold
65 Sundance Orange
75 Cardinal Red

Vinyl Top Colors:
2 Black
3 Blue
5 Parchment
8 Fawn
9 Green

PNT - Paint

09D - Assembly Date
01 - January
02 - February
03 - March
04 - April
05 - May
06 - June
07 - July
08 - August
09 - September
10 - October
11 - November
12 - December
A - First Week
B - Second Week
C - Third Week
D - Fourth Week
E - Fifth Week

SAD - Secondary Interior Color (Saddle)

174869 - Fisher Time Date Code


Now this is just a sample of a 1972 Cowl Tag. Your cowl tag may differ and have some different codes listed on there. For a list of more codes, check out the RPO page.

VIN Number

Example: 2S87R2N500001

1st digit - GM Division
2 = Pontiac

 

2nd digit - Car Line Series
S = Firebird
T = Esprit
U = Formula
V = Trans Am

 

3rd and 4th digit - Body Type
87 = 2 door Sport Coupe

 

5th digit - Engine Code
D = 250 c.i.d, 1-bbl V6 (1972 - 76)
M = 350 c.i.d, 2-bbl V8 (single exhaust) (1972 - 76)
N = 350 c.i.d, 2-bbl V8 (dual exhaust) (1972 - 74)
R = 400 c.i.d, 2-bbl V8 (single exhaust) (1972 -74)
P = 400 c.i.d, 2-bbl V8 (dual exhaust) (1972 -74)
T = 400 c.i.d, 4-bbl V8 (dual exhaust) (1972 -74)
X = 455 c.i.d, 4-bbl V8 (H.O.) (1972)

 

6th digit - Model Year
2 = 1972

 

7th digit - Assembly Plant
N = Norwood, Ohio
L = Van Nuys, California

 

Last 6 digits - Production Number
500001/up